Exploring

During our first full weekend in Croatia, the weather was gorgeous and the jetlag was finally subsiding.  So, we went exploring around Zagreb.  While we definitely want to get out and see the rest of Croatia and neighboring countries, we felt like starting small was better for our near term agenda.  Hopefully we can see all we want to in 2 years!

On Saturday, we drove the car a few miles to the tram station and rode the tram into the city center.  The tram is awesome.

The girls chased pigeons.

We took a look at the Zagreb Cathedral (built in 1390).

And ate (and drank) at an outdoor cafe.

On Sunday, I immersed myself into the local scene and ran a 5K in the city.  Sponsor Kim picked me up via taxi and we drove down and met some other students and teachers from AISZ.  It was a fun little race - although I got stuck weaving through a lot of walkers for the first several minutes.  The race signup was free, though I voluntarily paid 20 Kuna  (about $3.50) for a chip...and still have yet to find the results online.  Oh well...was hoping to break 28 minutes, though I'm not sure I even broke 30 minutes given the slow start.

Here are me, Kim (right), and Simone (left).  Simone helps Kim coach girls' basketball at the school.  Simone's husband actually plays for the Croatian pro basketball team.  Kim brought the hats - mine is the Croatian flag.

Later in the day, we ventured out to Bundek Park which had a great playground for the girls and a manmade lake with swans and ducks. 

Monday was a Croatian Holiday (their Independence Day), so we drove the Volvo just a little further up the hill to Medvedgrad Castle (you can see it from our porch view)- it was a picture perfect day to see such an amazing site and view of Zagreb.